Decision ousting firm from Louisiana recovery deal reversed

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) – The company that won a multimillion-dollar Louisiana flood recovery contract only to see it canceled because of conflict-of-interest concerns will be allowed to compete for the work.

Gov. John Bel Edwards’ administration has ordered a redo of the bid review process that will let Hunt Guillot and Associates be considered for the federally financed contract.

The work is intended to help people whose homes were damaged by the 2016 floods.

The original contract decision was rescinded because Louisiana’s chief procurement officer said key staff involved in the deal had a conflict of interest and may have given the company an unfair advantage.

Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne has decided Hunt Guillot and Associates and two other losing bidders should be allowed to submit updated contract proposals.

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